Transport unit

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a transport unit including at least one passenger transport vehicle and at least one attached driver vehicle; a set of networks including a train bus, first and second gateways, first and second vehicle buses each connected to the train bus via the first and second gateways respectively, and first and second on-board equipment groups connected solely to the first and second gateways. The transport unit includes at least two vehicles each having at least one piece of equipment in the first equipment group and at least one piece of equipment in the second equipment group.

This claims the benefit of FR 07 57071 filed on Aug. 14, 2007 and ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a transport unit of the type includingat least: at least one passenger transport vehicle and at least onedriver vehicle attached to the passenger vehicle and forming aself-contained vehicle set provided with on-board propulsion equipment;and a set of networks conveying traffic in real time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A transport unit is known that includes two to five passenger-transportvehicles that are connected to one another, and two driver vehicles eachattached to a respective end of a string of passenger-transportvehicles. The transport unit is provided with on-board propulsionequipment and forms a set of vehicles that is self-contained, whichvehicles are inseparable from an operating point of view and can also bereferred to as an indivisible unit.

Such a transport unit can either operate independently or else beattached to other transport units to make up a train.

When the transport unit operates independently, the driver vehicle atone end of the transport unit controls the transport unit as a functionof the direction in which the transport unit is running.

When a plurality of transport units are assembled together to form atrain, the driver vehicle at one end of the train acts alone to controlall of the transport units.

Data relating to managing the operation of equipment on the train, suchas power supply, braking, or heater equipment is delivered by means of atrain bus to a train control computer situated in the driver vehicle.

Nevertheless, for train architectures comprising a large number oftransport units, there is a risk of the network as a whole overloading.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention provides a transport unit with a network ofarchitecture that limits the risk of network overload.

The present_invention provides a transport unit wherein at least twovehicles each include at least one piece of equipment of the firstequipment group and one piece of equipment of the second equipmentgroup.

In particular embodiments, the transport unit may include one or more ofthe following characteristics:

-   -   the first vehicle bus and the first equipment group and also the        second vehicle bus and the second equipment group are        distributed amongst all of the vehicles of said transport unit;    -   the set of networks includes a third gateway, a third vehicle        bus connected to the train bus by the third gateway, and a third        equipment group comprising pieces of equipment connected solely        to the third vehicle bus, and the third equipment group includes        only pieces of equipment suitable for managing communications,        display, railway signaling, diagnosis, and driving control of        the transport unit;    -   the pieces of equipment belonging to each equipment group        contribute to performing a function selected from the following        functions: comfort; propulsion/braking; and controlling driving        of the transport unit;    -   said first equipment group includes only pieces of equipment        suitable for managing and carrying out activities associated        with passenger comfort;    -   said first equipment group includes in at least one piece of        equipment selected from: a master computer; door control        equipment; lighting equipment; public announcement equipment;        heater and air conditioning equipment; equipment for delivering        information to passengers; equipment for diagnosing comfort; and        a washroom installation;    -   said second equipment group includes only pieces of equipment        suitable for managing and carrying out propulsion and braking of        the transport unit;    -   said second equipment group includes in at least one piece of        equipment selected from: a master computer; an electronic        control unit for controlling propulsion equipment; an electronic        control unit for controlling an auxiliary inverter; an        electronic control unit for controlling high voltage        distribution equipment; an electronic control unit for        controlling a battery charger; an electronic control unit for        controlling a compressed air production device; an electronic        control unit for controlling traction/braking equipment; an        electronic control unit anti-sliding; an electronic control unit        for controlling a unit for detecting and extinguishing fire; an        electronic unit for detecting bogie instability; and an        electronic unit for detecting a hot axle bearing;    -   each equipment group includes a master computer for controlling        the vehicle bus to which it is connected, the master computer        being suitable for managing and controlling the other pieces of        equipment of the equipment group, each master computer receiving        data from the other pieces of equipment and being suitable for        delivering synthesis data to the train bus representative of the        operation of all of the other pieces of equipment of the        equipment group, the synthesis data being encoded on a        predefined number of bits regardless of the number and the type        of pieces of equipment in the equipment group, the amount of        data delivered by the master computer being less than the amount        of data received by the master computer from the other pieces of        equipment;    -   the master piece of equipment of the third equipment group is        suitable for managing the control of the transport unit, and        said master piece of equipment of the third equipment group is        suitable for controlling the master piece of equipment of the        first and/or second equipment groups;    -   each gateway of the train bus includes at least one        configuration table for converting the data format of each        vehicle bus to the data format of the train bus and vice versa,        and the or each master piece of equipment of an equipment group        includes receiver means for receiving a new computer program        such that in the event of a piece of equipment being added or        replaced with a new piece of equipment in said equipment group        or in the event of a new control relationship being implemented        for a piece of equipment, the or each master piece of equipment        is suitable for being reprogrammed without modifying the        configuration tables of the gateway to which the new piece of        equipment is connected; and    -   the or each master piece of equipment is suitable for delivering        over a periodic transmission channel only data that signals        existence and the sort of a fault.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood on reading the followingdescription given purely by way of example and made with reference tothe drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a transport unit forming part of thestate of the art;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a transport unit of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a train comprising a plurality oftransport units of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A transport unit 2 forming part of the state of the art is shown inFIG. 1. It includes a first driver vehicle 4, four passenger transportvehicles 6, 8, 10, 12 referred to below as passenger vehicles, that areattached to one another, and a second driver vehicle 14. The first andsecond driver vehicles 4 and 14 are each disposed at a respective end ofthe transport unit 2.

In the embodiment described, the transport unit 2 is traveling in thedirection F1 such that the second driver vehicle 14 is at the leadingend of the transport unit and controls it.

Such transport units 2 are suitable for being attached to one another tomake up a train. The driver vehicles at one end or the other of thetrain are suitable for controlling all of the transport units, dependingon the direction in which the train is advancing.

The transport unit 2 includes a set of networks 15 that convey trafficin real time. This set of networks 15 is generally made up of aso-called “train communications network” (TCN).

The set of networks 15 includes a wire train bus (WTB) 16, a firstgateway 17, a first vehicle bus 18 (generally constituted by amultifunction vehicle bus (MVB)) connected to the train bus 16 via thefirst gateway 17, and pieces of equipment 20, 21 that are connectedsolely to the first gateway 17 via the first vehicle bus 18. Together,these pieces of equipment 20, 21 form a first equipment set 22.

The train bus 16 is suitable for conveying operating data between thepieces of equipment 20, 21 in the equipment set 22 and a controllingcomputer 26 disposed in the second driver vehicle 14 that is controllingthe train. The computer 26 is referred to below as the train controlcomputer.

The operating data includes data representative of commands generated bythe train control computer 26 and delivered to all of the pieces ofequipment 20, 21 that execute them. The operating data also includesdata representative of the operating state of the pieces of equipment20, 21 as generated by the pieces of equipment 20, 21 and delivered tothe train control computer 26.

The gateway 17 includes a configuration table 17A providing operatingdata format conversion between the first vehicle bus 18 and the trainbus 16, and vice versa.

The configuration table 17A is programmed as a function of the numbersand the types of the pieces of equipment 20, 21 in the equipment set 22connected the first gateway 17. The configuration table is one of theelements subjected to testing when the train is type approved.

When a passenger vehicle 6 or a piece of equipment 21 is removed from oradded to a transport unit 2, the configuration tables 17A of all of thegateways of the train need to be reconfigured and subjected to approvalby the type approval service.

The first vehicle bus 18 and the pieces of equipment 20, 21 in the firstequipment set 22 are disposed and located solely in the first drivervehicle 4 and in the two passenger vehicles 6, 8 adjacent to anddirectly attached to the driver vehicle 4.

The pieces of equipment 20, 21 of the first equipment set 22 includepieces of equipment of the computer type and of the remote input/outputmodule type. These pieces of equipment 20, 21 are suitable for receivingdata representative of commands from the train control computer 26 andfor returning thereto, via the train bus 16, data representative oftheir respective operating states.

In particular, the first equipment set 22 includes a master computer 20that arbitrates the vehicle bus 18 and that is suitable for managing andcontrolling all of the other pieces of equipment 21 of the equipment set22, i.e. the set of pieces of equipment located in the first drivervehicle 4 and in the two passenger vehicles 6 and 8 that are directlyconnected thereto via the vehicle bus 18.

Furthermore, the first equipment set 22 includes pieces of equipment 21suitable for managing all of the functions associated with operating thetrain and in particular pieces of equipment suitable for managing thedriving of the transport unit 2, such as, for example: communicationsand display equipment; equipment suitable for managing power supply,propulsion, and braking of the transport unit 2, such as for example anelectronic unit for controlling high voltage distribution equipment oran auxiliary inverter; and equipment suitable for managing andperforming activities associated with passenger comfort, such as forexample equipment for controlling doors and lighting equipment.

The networks 15 further include a second gateway 23, a second vehiclebus 24 connected to the train bus 16 via the second gateway 23, andpieces of equipment 25, 26 connected solely to the second gateway 23 viathe second vehicle bus 24. The pieces of equipment 25, 26 make up asecond equipment set 27.

The second gateway 23 includes a configuration table 23A.

The second vehicle bus 24 and the pieces of equipment 25, 26 making upthe second equipment set 27 are disposed and located solely in thesecond driver vehicle 14 and in the two passenger vehicles 10, 12 thatare contiguous with and directly attached to the second driver vehicle14.

The second gateway 23, the second vehicle bus 24, the pieces ofequipment 25, 26 making up the second equipment set 27 (i.e. the piecesof equipment connected to the vehicle bus 24) are identical to the firstgateway 17, to the first vehicle bus 18, and to respective pieces ofequipment 20, 21 of the first equipment set 22, and are therefore notdescribed in detail.

In operation, the master computer 20 of the first equipment set 22receives data from the pieces of equipment 21 in the first equipment set22. It delivers some of that data to the gateway 17. The gateway 17reconfigures the data using the configuration table 17A and thendelivers it to the train computer 26 via the train bus 16.

When a piece of equipment 21 in the first equipment set 22 is defective,the data delivered to the train bus 16 includes data needed by thesecond equipment set 27 to enable it to perform the defective functionin a degraded mode. This data includes in particular the identity of thedefective equipment and the sort of the fault in said equipment.

The transport unit 28 of the invention is shown diagrammatically in FIG.2. Elements that are identical to elements of the transport unit shownin FIG. 1 are given the same references and are not described again.

The transport unit 28 includes a set of networks 29 comprising a trainbus 29A, and a comfort set 30, and a propulsion/braking set 31.

The comfort set 30 has a first gateway 32, a first vehicle bus 34connected to the train bus 29A via the first gateway 32, and a firstequipment group 36 including pieces of equipment 38, 40, 41 that are allconnected to the first gateway 32 via the first vehicle bus 34.

The first gateway 32 includes a configuration table 42 for performingequipment operating data format conversion on passing said data from thefirst vehicle bus 34 to the train bus 29A.

The configuration table 42 defines the interface between the comfort set30 and the remainder of the train. This table identifies the types ofthe pieces of equipment present in the set and the train level controldata for these types of equipment.

The configuration table 42 does not have conversion data relating to theidentities of the pieces of equipment 38, 40 of the first group, sothere is no need to reconfigure this table 42 whenever a piece ofequipment 38 in the first group is replaced, added, or removed, asexplained further below in this description.

The pieces of equipment 38, 40, 41 of the first equipment group 36 aredisposed in and located amongst at least two vehicles of the transportunit 28.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the pieces ofequipment 38, 40, 41 of the first equipment group are arranged in all ofthe vehicles of the transport unit 28, i.e. in both driver vehicles 4,14 and in all four passenger vehicles 6, 8, 10, 12.

According to the invention, an equipment group is a functional group ofpieces of equipment. The pieces of equipment in the group are suitablefor performing one particular function amongst the main functions of atrain, specifically comfort, propulsion/braking (in other wordsconverting energy into force for power supply, propulsion, and brakingpurposes), and controlling the driving the of the transport unit.

In other words, the pieces of equipment in any one group of theinvention all contribute to performing operations of the same type.

The first equipment group 36 includes solely pieces of equipment 38, 40of a type suitable for managing and performing activities associatedwith passenger comfort.

In particular, the first equipment group 36 includes at least one pieceof equipment 38, 40 from a set comprising: a master computer 41; doorcontrol equipment; lighting equipment; public announcement equipment;heater and air conditioning equipment; equipment for deliveringinformation to passengers; comfort diagnosis equipment; and washroomequipment.

The first equipment group 36 includes one or more of the above-mentionedpieces of equipment, but it includes equipment of those types only andno equipment of any other type, such as, for example, equipment suitablefor controlling other activities such as controlling driving and/orpropulsion/braking of the transport unit.

The master computer 41 acts as the bus arbitrator for the vehicle bus34.

The master computer 41 includes a processor suitable for executing acomputer program 43 that summarizes the operating data of the pieces ofequipment 38, 40 of the first group 36 for the purpose of delivering tothe first gateway 32 only data that is representative of the operationof all of the pieces of equipment from the first group 36 that isnecessary for driving the train.

The program 43 is suitable for encoding the synthesis data on apredefined number of bits regardless of the number of pieces ofequipment in the first equipment group 36. The amount of data deliveredby the master computer 41 to the first gateway 32 is less than theamount of data it receives from the other pieces of equipment 38, 40 inthe first group.

The program 43 is suitable for encoding the synthesis data in such amanner that it does not include the identities of the pieces ofequipment 38, 40 concerned by said data. For example, when a piece ofequipment 38 in the first group is defective, the synthesis datadelivered to the first gateway 32 includes solely data indicating theexistence of a fault and the sort of the fault, but not the identity ofthe faulty piece of equipment.

Thus, the synthesis data is encoded on a predefined number of bitsregardless of the number and the type of the pieces of equipment in thefirst equipment group 36. When a piece of equipment in the firstequipment group is faulty, the first equipment group 36 is seeninitially as being a single piece of equipment so far as the traincontrol computer 62 is concerned.

The train control computer 62 warns the driver that there is an anomaly.This anomaly is characterized solely by its sort. The driver thencarries out the provisions of the driving regulations that correspond tosuch circumstances. For this purpose, and subsequently, the driver seeksto identify the defective piece of equipment in order to carry outcorrective actions and ensure the best possible service. This actioninitiates dialog in the form of messages relating to the context betweenthe train control computer and the master computer 41.

Consequently, the amount of data that is conveyed periodically over thetrain bus 29A in transport units of the invention is smaller than theamount of data transiting over the train bus in transport units of thestate of the art as shown in FIG. 1. The detailed data necessary forperforming accurate diagnosis of events is no longer deliveredsystematically, but only when required. This enables the data transferrate to be optimized.

The master computer 41 further includes receiver means, for example, areceiver 44 for receiving a new computer program. The new program issuitable for modifying the program 43 so as to take account of a pieceof equipment in the first equipment group 36 being added or replaced.

The propulsion/braking set 31 includes a second gateway 45, a secondvehicle bus 46 connected to the train bus 29A via the second gateway 45,and a second equipment group 48 comprising pieces of equipment 49, 50,51 that are connected to the second gateway 45 via the second vehiclebus 46.

The second gateway 45 includes a configuration table 45A performing afunction similar to that of the configuration table 42.

The pieces of equipment 49, 50, 51 in the second equipment group 48 aredisposed and located in at least two of the vehicles of the transportunit 28. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the piecesof equipment 49, 50, 51 of the second equipment group 48 are arranged inall of the vehicles of the transport unit 28.

The second equipment group 48 includes only pieces of equipment 49, 50,51 of a type that is suitable for managing and providing power supply,propulsion, and braking of the transport unit 28.

In particular, the second equipment group 48 includes in at least onepiece of equipment selected from: a master computer 51; an electronicunit for controlling propulsion equipment 50; an electronic unit forcontrolling high voltage distribution equipment; an electronic controlunit for an auxiliary inverter; an electronic control unit for a batterycharger; an electronic control unit for producing compressed air; anelectronic control unit for controlling a traction/braking unit; anelectronic control unit anti-sliding; an electronic control unit for afire detection and extinction unit; an electronic unit for detectingbogie instability; and an electronic unit for detecting hot axlebearings.

The second equipment group 48 includes one or more such pieces ofequipment but only pieces of equipment of this type and it does notinclude any pieces of equipment of some other type, such as for examplepieces of equipment suitable for managing activities such as passengercomfort.

The master computer 51 is the bus arbitrator of the second vehicle bus46. It is therefore suitable for managing the other pieces of equipmentof the second group 48.

The master computer 51 includes a processor that is suitable forexecuting a program 52A and receiver means 52B for receiving a newcomputer program. The program 52A and the receiver means 52B are similarin function to the program 43 and to the receiver means 44 of thecomfort set and they are not described again.

The set of networks 29 also includes first and second control sets 53and 54.

Each of the first and second control sets 53 and 54 is disposed andlocated solely in a respective one of the first and second drivervehicles 4 and 14.

The first control set 53 includes a third gateway 56, a third vehiclebus 58 connected to the train bus 29A via the third gateway 56, and athird equipment group 60 that includes pieces of equipment 62, 64connected to the third gateway 56 via the third vehicle bus 58.

The third gateway 56 has a configuration table 66A similar to theconfiguration tables 32 and 45 and a configuration table 66B. Theconfiguration table 66A is used when the control computer 62 arranged inthe second driver vehicle 14 is not controlling the train.

The configuration table 66B is used when the control computer 62arranged in the second control vehicle 14 is controlling the train.

The configuration table 66B is suitable for recovering data from thefirst and second gateways 32 and 45 so as to deliver that data to thevehicle bus 58. It is also suitable for transforming the format of datacoming from the vehicle bus 58 to the format of the train bus 29A.

The pieces of equipment 62, 64 in the third equipment group 60 includeonly those pieces of equipment that are suitable for managingcommunication, display, railway signaling, diagnosis, and controllingthe driving of the transport unit 28, when said pieces of equipment arethemselves situated in the driver vehicle at the leading end of thetransport unit 28 or of the train.

In particular, the third equipment group 60 includes a master computer62 that constitutes the bus arbitrator for the first vehicle bus 58. Themaster computer 62 is thus suitable for managing the pieces of equipment64 in the third equipment group 60.

The master computer 62 includes a processor suitable for executing aprogram 68 and receiver means 70 for receiving a new computer program.The program 68 and the receiver means 70 are similar in function to theprogram 43, 52A and to the receiver means 44, 52B of the comfort set andof the propulsion/braking set, and they are not described again.

When the master computer 62 is the train control computer, it is alsosuitable for managing the master computers 41 and 51 of the first andsecond equipment groups 36 and 48 of the transport unit 28. Under suchcircumstances, the master computer 62 is suitable for delivering datarepresentative of control to the master computers 41 and 51, and forreceiving data representative of the operation of the pieces ofequipment therein, and for delivering data representative of operationto the communications and display pieces of equipment or to other piecesof equipment in the third group 60, depending on the sort of the data.

When the driver vehicle 14 containing the first driver set 53 issituated between a passenger vehicle and a driver vehicle of anothertransport unit, the first driver set 53 does not perform functionsassociated with train control.

The elements of the second driver set 54 are identical to the elementsof the first driver set 53, they are designated by the same references,and they are not described again.

A train 72 of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. The train 72 includesthree transport units 74, 76, 78. These transport units 74, 76, 78 areidentical to the transport unit 28 shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3, the driver vehicles 80 and 82 are arranged at each of theends of the train 72.

When the train 72 is traveling in the direction F1, then the mastercomputer 84 situated in the driver vehicle 82 at the end of the train 72is the controlling master computer and the gateway 86 to which it isconnected is referred to below as the lead gateway.

When the train 72 is traveling in the opposite direction F2, the mastercomputer 88 situated in the driver vehicle 80 situated at the other endof the train 72 is the controlling master computer and the gateway 90 towhich it is connected is the lead gateway 90.

In the embodiment described, the train 72 is traveling in the directionF1.

The controlling master computer 82 delivers a control and request dataset to the lead gateway 86. The lead gateway 86 configures said data anddelivers it to the train bus 29A over a periodic transmission channel.

The first and second gateways 32 and 45 in each transport unit 74, 76,78 select from said data set any data that is specific thereto anddelivers said data to the master computers 41, 51 of the first andsecond vehicle buses 34 and 46 in each transport unit.

In particular, the second gateways 45 of each transport unit select thedata relating to passenger comfort and deliver said data to the mastercomputers 41. The master computers 41 process the data and deliver theprocessed data to the pieces of equipment in the first equipment groups36 via the first vehicle buses 34. Each piece of equipment 38, 40 in thefirst equipment groups 36 recognizes in the first vehicle buses thosedata items that relate thereto and executes the commands contained insaid data.

Each piece of equipment 38, 40 in the first equipment groups 36 deliversoperating state data either periodically or aperiodically to the mastercomputer 41 of its group.

The master computers 41 process said data, produce a summary or overviewof all of the data received from the pieces of equipment 38, 40 in thefirst equipment groups 36, and deliver only said synthesis data to thefirst gateways 32.

This synthesis data contains only data for indicating the existence andthe sort of a fault. In other words, this synthesis data does notcontain information specifying the reference of the piece of equipmentconcerned.

On receiving data from the master computers 41, the first gateways 32reconfigure the received data and deliver it to the train bus 29A forforwarding to the lead gateway.

The lead gateway 86 reconfigures the data delivered to the train bus 29Aand forwards it to the controlling master computer 84. This computerputs this data into form and forwards it to the control equipment 60concerned thereby.

Thus, the data conveyed by the train bus 29A includes synthesis dataonly, so the bus is less loaded.

The controlling master computer 84 manages the master computers 41, 51of first and second vehicle buses 34 and 46.

When a piece of equipment in the set of networks 29 needs to be changedor added, e.g. a piece of equipment connected to the first vehicle bus34 of the transport unit 74, a new computer program is input into thereceiver means 44 of the master computer 41 so as to modify the program43 of the master computer 41 to take account of the new equipment or ofa new control relationship, i.e. new equipment driver software.

If the piece of equipment forms part of a type already present and ifthe control data relating thereto at train level is identical, then thesynthesis data generated after reprogramming the program 43 by themaster computer 41 is identical to that generated by the master computer41 when said new equipment was not present.

Thus, there is no need to reconfigure the reconfiguration tables 42 ofthe first gateways 32 of all of the transport units 74, 76, 78 whenadding a new piece of equipment or a new control relationship. Thesynthesis data generated by the master piece of equipment 41 is of thesame type as the synthesis data generated when said new equipment wasnot connected to the first vehicle bus 34.

In a variant, the train 72 may have some other number of transportunits.

In a variant, each driver vehicle 4, 14 may have both a passengercompartment and a driver's cab.

In a variant, the set of networks 29 may include some other number ofequipment groups.

In a variant, a transport unit may be fitted with types other than thecomfort set type, the propulsion/braking set type, and the driving settype.

Preferably, the transport unit may be used in high-speed trains, i.e.trains that reach speeds greater than 250 kilometers per hour (km/h).

Advantageously, data transmission may be faster in a transport unit ofthe invention.

Advantageously, the transport unit may be a train or a tram.

1: A transport unit comprising: at least one passenger transport vehicleand at least one driver vehicle attached to the passenger vehicle andforming a self-contained vehicle set having on-board propulsionequipment; and a set of networks conveying traffic in real time, the setof networks including a train bus, first and second gateways, first andsecond vehicle buses each connected to the train bus via the first andsecond gateways respectively, and first and second on-board equipmentgroups including pieces of equipment connected solely to the first andsecond gateways respectively via the first and second vehicle busesrespectively; at least two vehicles each including at least one piece ofequipment of the first equipment group and one piece of equipment of thesecond equipment group. 2: The transport unit according to claim 1,wherein the first vehicle bus and the first equipment group and thesecond vehicle bus and the second equipment group are distributedamongst all of the vehicles of the transport unit. 3: The transport unitaccording to claim 1, the set of networks further includes a thirdgateway, a third vehicle bus connected to the train bus by the thirdgateway, and a third equipment group including pieces of equipmentconnected solely to the third vehicle bus, the third equipment groupincluding only pieces of equipment suitable for managing communications,display, railway signaling, diagnosis, and driving control of thetransport unit. 4: The transport unit according to claim 1, wherein thepieces of equipment belonging to each equipment group contribute toperforming a function selected from the following functions: comfort;propulsion/braking; and controlling driving of the transport unit. 5:The transport unit according to claim 1, wherein the first equipmentgroup includes only pieces of equipment suitable for managing andcarrying out activities associated with passenger comfort. 6: Thetransport unit according to claim 1, wherein the first equipment groupincludes at least one piece of equipment selected from: a mastercomputer; door control equipment; lighting equipment; publicannouncement equipment; heater and air conditioning equipment; equipmentfor delivering information to passengers; equipment for diagnosingcomfort; and a washroom installation. 7: The transport unit accordingclaim 1, wherein the second equipment group includes only pieces ofequipment suitable for managing and carrying out propulsion and brakingof the transport unit. 8: The transport unit according to claim 1,wherein the second equipment group includes at least one piece ofequipment selected from: a master computer; an electronic control unitfor controlling propulsion equipment; an electronic control unit forcontrolling an auxiliary inverter; an electronic control unit forcontrolling high voltage distribution equipment; an electronic controlunit for controlling a battery charger; an electronic control unit forcontrolling a compressed air production device; an electronic controlunit for controlling traction/braking equipment; an electronic controlunit anti-sliding; an electronic control unit for controlling a unit fordetecting and extinguishing fire; an electronic unit for detecting bogieinstability; and an electronic unit for detecting a hot axle bearing. 9:The transport unit according to claim 1, wherein each equipment groupincludes a master computer for controlling the vehicle bus the mastercomputer is connected to, the master computer being suitable formanaging and controlling the other pieces of equipment of the equipmentgroup, each master computer receiving data from the other pieces ofequipment and being suitable for delivering synthesis data to the trainbus representative of the operation of all of the other pieces ofequipment of the equipment group, the synthesis data being encoded on apredefined number of bits regardless of the number and the type ofpieces of equipment in the equipment group, the amount of data deliveredby the master computer being less than the amount of data received bythe master computer from the other pieces of equipment. 10: Thetransport unit according to claim 9, wherein the pieces of equipmentbelonging to each equipment group contribute to performing a functionselected from the following functions: comfort; propulsion/braking; andcontrolling driving of the transport unit, the master piece of equipmentof the third equipment group being suitable for managing the control ofthe transport unit, the master piece of equipment of the third equipmentgroup being suitable for controlling the master piece of equipment ofthe first and/or second equipment groups. 11: The transport unitaccording to claim 9, wherein each gateway of the train bus includes atleast one configuration table for converting the data format of eachvehicle bus to the data format of the train bus and vice versa, andwherein the or each master piece of equipment of an equipment groupincludes a receiver for receiving a new computer program such that inthe event of a piece of equipment being added or replaced with a newpiece of equipment in the equipment group or in the event of a newcontrol relationship being implemented for a piece of equipment, the oreach master piece of equipment is suitable for being reprogrammedwithout modifying the configuration tables of the gateway to which thenew piece of equipment is connected. 12: The transport unit according toclaim 9, wherein the or each master piece of equipment is suitable fordelivering over a periodic transmission channel only data that signalsexistence and the sort of a fault.